Neuromodulation surgery changes the way neurons transmit pain. Treatment can help patients with chronic pain
Patients with chronic pain often face an arduous journey before and after diagnosis. Since it is not always something visible, the person can minimize their pain. And, in addition to being unpleasant for the organism, the condition ends up being an emotional burden.
Prevalence of chronic pain in Brazil and worldwide
An estimated 1.5 billion people worldwide suffer from chronic pain, which equates to one in five individuals. The prevalence is higher in patients older than 60 years. In Brazil, according to the Brazilian Society for the Study of Pain (SBED), at least 37% of the population (60 million people) report suffering from chronic pain.
Studies show that 46% of people experience constant pain. 59% of them have already lived with pain for 2 to 15 years, while 19% of people stop doing activities that seem simple to everyone, such as work, because of the pain.
What is chronic pain
We call it chronic persistent pain, which bothers the patient for months or even years, explains Dr. Marcello Valadares. “Even if it is not obvious, in many cases it can be an extremely important health alarm. This is because chronic pain can indicate the presence of other diseases,” says the expert.
Therefore, it is important to be aware of the symptoms. The neurologist says that, without treatment, the condition can lead to other problems that didn’t exist before. Examples of this are limited mobility, reduced activity (tendency to be sedentary) and fatigue, as well as harm to ergonomics.
Treatments
Fortunately, today there are numerous ways to take care of chronic pain. “When the specialist tries to define the best treatment, he tries to identify the origin of the problem, define the characteristics of the pain and seek information on the patient’s health status, in order to choose the best approach. Furthermore, each case is unique : not all medicines work for everyone; physical exercises are not always recommended”, underlines the doctor.
Multidisciplinary treatment begins when we understand the particularities of each patient. In some cases it is possible to completely eliminate the pain. Even if this doesn’t apply to everyone, it will always be possible to bring quality of life and, certainly, a significant functional improvement. “That is, living comfortably, carrying out daily activities without problems and without suffering,” says Dr. Marcellus.
In addition to pharmacological treatments and complementary therapies, the professor indicates that today we also have promising surgical options for pain treatment. In cases where drugs are no longer adequate or sufficient, treatments such as nerve blocks and infiltrations with anesthetics, minimally invasive surgery using video and percutaneous surgery (without the need to use a scalpel) are possible.
Neuromodulation for the treatment of chronic pain
With advances in science, it is also possible to think about brain stimulation treatments for pain. “Cerebral or spinal cord neuromodulation (stimulation) procedures, when well indicated, can be an excellent treatment for chronic pain in very complex cases and in which different treatments have already been tested, with different doctors”, informs Professor Unicamp.
However, it is necessary that the patient’s pain has some characteristics that demonstrate nerve or nervous system involvement, such as low back pain (low back pain) after spinal surgery.
“When it comes to surgery in general, people are usually scared: deep down nobody wants to have surgery. But there’s no reason to. Surgery for pain is easier than it sounds, and it can be a solution especially when we know that there is a cause of the pain and, in this case, that a cure is possible”, reassures the doctor.
However, there is often no cure for the cause of the pain. In these cases, surgical interventions come into play with implants of devices that work like computers connected to electrodes: small wires that remain completely implanted in the person’s body.
“These devices have the power to change the way pain is perceived or even block the perception of pain, leading to significant and often lasting relief. These surgeries are called neuromodulationand change the way neurons transmit pain,” explains the neurosurgeon.
“Chronic pain can and should be treated. It’s not normal to accept pain and limit yourself because of it. If you have signs that your situation is persistent, seek out a neurologist or neurosurgeon who specializes in pain management,” emphasizes Dr. Marcello Valadares.
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Source: Terra
Ben Stock is a lifestyle journalist and author at Gossipify. He writes about topics such as health, wellness, travel, food and home decor. He provides practical advice and inspiration to improve well-being, keeps readers up to date with latest lifestyle news and trends, known for his engaging writing style, in-depth analysis and unique perspectives.
